Resources: Sustainable Affordable Housing
GMF's curated list of tools to retrofit existing units or build new affordable housing
SUSTAINABLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Our Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) initiative supports local affordable housing providers in retrofitting existing units or constructing energy-efficient new builds. The initiative is open to municipalities, not-for-profit organizations and housing cooperatives looking to improve their communities with sustainable affordable housing.
This list of curated resources provides useful information on your affordable housing retrofit or new build. Learn more about:
- the most effective and energy-efficient methods to make buildings more energy-efficient
- various operations and maintenance recommendations for efficient buildings
- the steps required to begin the retrofit of an existing multi-unit residential building
- how to select different energy-efficient technologies for your housing project
- energy-efficient methods to make buildings more sustainable
- and much more
We will continue to update this page with additional resources as they become available.
Note: All files appear in the language in which they were provided and are organized by category: retrofits, new builds or both.
- Understanding energy efficiency
- Retrofits and new builds: Understanding energy efficiency: A guide for affordable housing providers (Federation of Canadian Municipalities)
- Retrofits and new builds: Keeping the Heat In (Natural Resources Canada)
- Retrofits and new builds: What is Embodied Carbon? Understanding its Impact on the Built Environment (cove.tool)
- Retrofits and new builds: Developer's Guide to Passive House Buildings (Passive House Canada)
- Retrofits and new builds: Toolkit: Navigating energy-efficient affordable housing projects (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
- Retrofits and new builds: A Guide for the Selection of Energy Efficiency Technologies (Saskatchewan Energy Management Task Forces)
- Retrofits: Green Building Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (Green Building Canada)
- Retrofits: Why undertake energy-efficiency retrofits (Federation of Canadian Municipalities)
- Retrofits: Heritage Buildings: Introduction (NAIMA Canada)
- Energy conservation measures
- Retrofits and new builds: Heat Pump Basics (Natural Resources Canada)
- Retrofits and new builds: A Window into Energy Efficiency (Housing Services Corporation [HSC])
- Retrofits and new builds: Balconies - How Do They Impact Wall Performance? (EQ Building Performance)
- Retrofits and new builds: Thermal Bridges — A Path to Energy Waste (Housing Services Corporation [HSC])
- Retrofits and new builds: Smart Thermostats: Technology Assessment and Field Test Findings in Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (The Atmospheric Fund [TAF])
- Retrofits and new builds: Ventilation Strategies for High-Performance Multi-Units Residential Buildings (ZEBx)
- Retrofits and new builds: Project Cash Flow Calculator (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
- Retrofits: Top 5 Energy-Saving Measures for Housing Co-ops (The Agency for Co-operative Housing)
- Retrofits: Harvesting Heat with Heat Pumps: Retrofit Guide for Ontario’s Electrically-Heated Multi-Family Buildings (The Atmospheric Fund [TAF])
- Retrofits: Heat Pump Retrofit Guide for Strata and Co-op Buildings (Green City Solutions with the City of Vancouver and H.W Flesher Housing Co-op)
- Retrofits: Guide to Energy-Efficiency Windows (U.S. Department of Energy)
- Retrofits: Decarbonization Roadmap for Multifamily Affordable Housing (Building Energy Exchange)
- Getting inspired on energy efficiency
- New builds: Best Practices and Innovative Approaches to Energy Reduction in MURBs (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation [CMHC])
- New builds: Bois Ellen Co-operative Residence, Laval (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation [CMHC])
- New builds: Case study: New build achieves financial sustainability, social and environmental benefits (Federation of Canadian Municipalities)
- New builds: Case study: Consultation and innovation improves performance (Federation of Canadian Municipalities)
- Retrofits: First phase of a first-of-its-kind energy efficiency retrofit project completed at eight of WoodGreen Community Housing's buildings (WoodGreen)
- Retrofits: Research Insight: Identification of Best Practices in Northern MURBs (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation [CMHC])
- Retrofits: Case study: Raising the bar on community housing retrofits (Federation of Canadian Municipalities)
- Retrofits: Case study: Brownfield redevelopment incorporates affordable housing (Federation of Canadian Municipalities)
- Retrofits: Case study: Energy retrofit delivers multiple benefits (Federation of Canadian Municipalities)
- Retrofits: Case study: Sustainable homes, stronger community (FCM's Green Municipal Fund)
- Developing a business case for an energy efficiency retrofit
- New builds: Planning high-performance affordable housing (Federation of Canadian Municipalities)
- New builds: Why build high-performance affordable housing? (Federation of Canadian Municipalities)
- New builds: Achieving High Performance Multi-unit Residential Buildings: The Opportunities (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation [CMHC])
- New builds: Video & Playbook: Low Carbon Energy Systems (ZEBx)
- Retrofits: Developing a business case for an energy-efficiency retrofit (Federation of Canadian Municipalities)
- Retrofits: Research Insight: Comprehensive Retrofit of an Existing Multi-Unit Residential Building (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation [CMHC])
- Retrofits: The Case for Deep Retrofits (The Atmospheric Fund [TAF])
- Retrofits: Robert Cooke Co-op Case Study: A TowerWise Retrofit Project (The Atmospheric Fund [TAF])
- Retrofits: The Heights: Multi-Unit Residential Passive House (ZEBx)
- Retrofits: How to undertake deep energy retrofits (Federation of Canadian Municipalities)
- Working with consultants
- Retrofits and new builds: Hiring + Working with Development Consultants: A Guide for Non-Profit Housing Providers (BC Non-Profit Housing Association [BCNPHA])
- Retrofits and new builds: Question & Answers: Energy Audits (The Agency for Co-operative Housing)
- Retrofits and new builds: Toolkit for air source heat pump sizing and selection (Natural Resources Canada [NRCan])
- Retrofits and new builds: Canadian Sustainable Energy Practitioner (CSEP) (CIET Canada)
- Retrofits and new builds: Funders list for sustainable affordable housing (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
- New builds: Planning High-Performance Buildings (ZEBx)
- Retrofits: Steps for Creating and Implementing an Energy Management Plan (Housing Services Corporation [HSC])
- Retrofits: Pre-Energy Audit Document Checklist (Housing Services Corporation [HSC])
- Retrofits: Find a Contractor (Clean BC and British Columbia)
- Engaging residents in energy efficiency projects
- Retrofits: A Field Guide to Retrofits in Occupied Buildings (Tower Renewal Partnership)
- Retrofits: Sustainability at Home: A Toolkit For Your Co-op (The Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada)
- Retrofits: Tenant Engagement Sustainability, Guide (BC Housing)
- Retrofits: Tenant Engagement Sustainability, A Supplementary Guide (BC Housing)
- Retrofits: Tenant Engagement on Sustainability, Facilitators Handbook (BC Housing)
- Retrofits : ACORN Tenant Engagement Report – Retrofits (ACORN Canada)
- Retrofits: Retrofitting with Tenants in Place (Pembina Institute)
- Retrofits: H.W. Flesher Housing Co-op — Case Study (City of Vancouver and Greenest City)
- Retrofits: Webinar recording: How housing providers can help residents during energy retrofits (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
- Operations and maintenance
- Retrofits and new builds: Building Emissions Accounting for Materials (BEAM) Estimator (Builders for Climate Action)
- Retrofits and new builds: Factsheet: Get started on energy monitoring (FCM’s Green Municipal Fund)
- Retrofits: Guide to Building Condition Assessments and Reserve Fund Studies (The Agency for Co-operative Housing)
- Retrofits: E-learning course: Building Operators Training (Federation of Canadian Municipalities)
Related Resources
See All
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Webinar recording: Building for the future with better community housing
Watch the discussion to learn about an award-winning sustainable affordable housing project.
Community efficiency financing
Energy | Housing
Creating inclusive energy retrofit programs
Our Integrating equity principles within community efficiency financing programs: A guide for Canadian municipalities and partners is designed to help municipalities create home energy retrofit financing programs that work for everyone.
Municipal and community buildings
Land Use
Factsheets: Working with nature to improve infrastructure project outcomes
Learn how you can integrate nature-based solutions into your community’s infrastructure project planning
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Webinar recording: How housing providers can help residents during energy retrofits
Watch the discussion on how to take advantage of the Housing Providers’ Toolkit.
Local energy generation
Energy
Webinar recording: New GMF funding and support to accelerate community energy systems
Watch our webinar to explore GMF’s new funded learning offer: Accelerating Community Energy Systems. Discover best practices, funding insights and strategies for your municipality.
Community efficiency financing
Energy | Housing
Unlocking the potential of PACE financing: A comprehensive report on Canadian legislation
Read our informative report to discover an overview of PACE legislation in Canada and learn how a PACE initiative can benefit your community.
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Aspen Heights: Redefining affordable housing in Saskatoon
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Heartland Housing Foundation: Building a sustainable future in Fort Saskatchewan
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Building a better future: CABN’s net-zero affordable housing pilot
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Pine Tree Park: Transforming affordable housing with energy efficiency and solar power
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Rossland Yards: Transforming affordable housing in Rossland, BC
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
YWCA Banff: Building stability and community through affordable housing
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Transforming communities with Sustainable Affordable Housing: Article series
In a series of six articles, we highlight impactful projects funded by GMF's Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) initiative, demonstrating how energy-efficient, community-centered housing can foster resilience and well-being.
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Regional Energy Coach list
Get in touch with a Regional Energy Coach in your region and start your energy efficiency journey
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Webinar recording: Accelerate your community’s net-zero transformation with new GMF funding
Watch our webinar to discover how GMF’s new funding can help you upgrade infrastructure and reduce local GHG emissions.
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Webinar recording: The real impact of home-energy efficiency financing
Watch our webinar to discover how you can achieve your climate goals by implementing a home-energy efficiency financing program in your community
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Webinar recording: Transform your approach to energy efficiency with the Housing Providers’ Toolkit
Watch the discussion on how to take advantage of the Housing Providers’ Toolkit.
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Project cash flow calculator
Our energy project calculator is designed to aid housing providers in quantifying the associated costs of sustainable, affordable housing projects. Use the calculator to understand the viability of a potential project and make informed decisions.
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Funders list for sustainable affordable housing
Access additional funding sources from across Canada to support your next affordable housing project.
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Toolkit: Navigating energy-efficient affordable housing projects
Discover a toolkit designed for affordable housing providers aiming to prioritize energy efficiency. This toolkit offers insights into the benefits of energy-efficient housing, addresses unique challenges, and provides practical tools to identify solutions.
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Webinar recording: How to start reducing GHG emissions in community buildings
Watch the discussion on how to create a GHG reduction pathway for community buildings.
Municipal and community buildings
Energy | Housing
Webinar recording: How to get a project started, tips for small francophone communities
If you’re a small francophone municipality looking to develop sustainability projects and access funding, watch this webinar to learn how others overcame common challenges.
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Community Efficiency Financing market guide
Guide to help Canadian municipalities assess potential home energy upgrade programs
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Webinar recording: Affordable housing providers’ impact on energy poverty
The webinar will feature a housing project helping moderate income households while achieving high environmental standards.
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Understanding energy efficiency: A guide for affordable housing providers
This guide is for affordable housing providers, such as municipalities or housing cooperatives, interested in improving energy efficiency in their buildings.
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Resource library: Community Buildings Retrofit
Find practical case studies and guidance for planning your local community building retrofit.
Community efficiency financing
Energy | Housing
Video: Nelson scales up local program to support home-energy upgrades
In this video, Carmen Proctor, Climate & Energy Manager at the City of Nelson, tells the story of the program’s success to date, shares key lessons learned from running the program, and highlights their next steps to scale up the program.
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Webinar recording: Asset management and energy conservation
Learn how the non-profit housing sector can integrate energy management into asset management to reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Community efficiency financing
Energy
Resources: Community Efficiency Financing
Read guidebooks and case studies to see how municipalities are designing home upgrade financing programs.
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Video: 5 keys for sustainable social housing success
This video walks through the key sections of a successful business case: Needs Assessment, Organizational Readiness, Project Vision and Financials.
Energy | Housing
Webinar recording: Take your project from study to capital
Watch this webinar recording and discover how others have successfully converted studies into a capital project that provides social, economic and environmental benefits.
Energy
Webinar recording: The 5 keys to a green municipal project business case
Watch this webinar recording and discover the five critical focus areas you need to address to get your project started, from financing and partnerships to integrating a triple-bottom-line approach.
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Video: 1,500 Toronto residents benefit from retrofit initiative
Bryan Purcell, of The Atmospheric Fund, tells the story of how an initiative to perform energy efficiency retrofits of 7 community housing buildings in Toronto achieved so much more.
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy
Regional Energy Coaches
Regional Energy Coaches help affordable housing providers plan energy efficiency retrofits and new builds.
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Webinar recording: Making affordable housing sustainable
Watch this webinar recording to learn about the various forms of grant, loan and capacity building support we offer to help you retrofit existing units or build new ones.
Municipal and community buildings
Energy
Factsheets: Municipal Energy Roadmap
These factsheets offer specific guidance around building-level solutions, community-level solutions, and long-term strategies to help you drill down and meet your objectives.
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Factsheets: Sustainable Affordable Housing
Learn how to retrofit existing housing for energy-efficiency and plan new builds for higher performance.
Sustainable affordable housing
Energy | Housing
Webinar recording: Apply for GMF’s Sustainable Affordable Housing funding
Watch this joint webinar hosted by the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA to learn how to apply for FCM’s newest funding initiative – Sustainable Affordable Housing.
Energy | Housing
Webinar recordings: Best practices in municipal sustainability
How are cities and communities of all sizes tackling their environmental challenges? Find out from our five-part webinar series on innovations and opportunities in municipal energy, waste, water, transportation and land use initiatives.
Energy | Housing
Webinar recording: How to prepare a GMF capital project application
Need advice for preparing your GMF capital project funding application? Watch our webinar recording to hear tips from our staff and find out what reviewers are looking for.
Related Projects
See All
Energy | Housing